Typewriter desk



Oct. 7, 1941.

x a 16 I I] l 16 so i0 29 WNW Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED 1 STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITERYDESK u John H. WhiteQHigh Point, ,N. o. I Application April 19, 1940, Serial No. 330,624 12 Claims. (c1, era-24) ,Myinvention relates (to improvements in typewriter. desks. j, An important object .of the invention is to provide. a flat tOP typewriter desk, having ample knee-space when the desk is opened and closed wherebythe same is highly convenient in use. Aliurther object of the invention is to provide means for connecting and operatingthe typewriter table and the .cover, in unison and locking the typewriter table in the raised position against improper downward movement.

A. further .object of the inventionfis to pro- .vide a desk of the above .mentioned character whichsis of simplified construction and which maybe manufactured comparatively cheaply and which is easy to operate. Other-objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following. description. win .theaccompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals areiemployed todesignatelike parts throughout thesame, a l Figure 1 is a perspective view of the typewriter desk. embodying my invention, showing the same 1 Figure 2 is a -central transverse vertical sectionthrough Figure 1,.showing the deskopened, 1. Figure 3 is asimilar view showing the desk 5 8 Figure 4x-is a perspectiv 'view of the cover sections and associated elements, 7 a Figure 5 is a plan yiewuof a stationary table .and .movable table rand associated .guides,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on line tie-6 of Figure .5, showing thetypewriter in place, and, v u t Figure 7 is a transversesection taken on line "Te-1 of Figure 5. t p u T fInthe drawing, wherein for the purpose of iljlustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a flat top typewriter desk as a whole, having two sets "of drawers -6. The desk further comprises a flat top I and the desk has a well 8, and anopening 9 is formed in the top 1 and leads into the well. The :well has side walls 10, included in .the cabinets which hold :the drawers 6. The "foregoing description is :that of the conventional ".flat top typewriter desk. The present invention may-be a-ppliedto a flat top typewriter desk havingytworsets-of .dI EtWEITSGyOI a single set and the ginvention is not restricted to its .application :to the-precise form of deskshown. u

The numeral fl I designates a frontstationary 55 table'which is horizontal, and arranged Within the upper portion ofthe well 8 at-the front of the well, and preferably projects slightly to the exterior of the well, This stationary table is suite ably secured to the side walls Ill and associated parts of the desk, preferablyin a, manner to deaden the sound produced by the operation of the typewriter. The stationary table II is arranged at a sufficiently high elevation to provide "ample knee space when the desk is being used. Thestationary table II is arranged at aneleva- Ttion beneath and spaced from the fiattop 1.. Disposed at the rear of .the stationarytable H is a swinging typewriter table I2, hingedto the stationary table H; asshown at l3. The hinges 13 are arranged upon the lower faces of the.

tables I Land 12 and provide a knee joint which breaks downwardly. Theswinging table 12 may be moved upwardly to a horizontal position flush with the stationary table I], Figure 2, or low- .ered to an inclined position, Figure 3. The table jlZI is arranged within the well 8 and has a back .14 rigidly attached to the table I 2, which back serves .torprevent the displacement of a type- ,writer 15, as .shown. When the swinging table i2 is in the lowermost.position it engages a stationary verticahpartition or board I6 suitably secured to the side walls .10, as shown.

' The opening 19 isclosed by a cover including a Liorward cover section I] and a rear cover section 18, which operate within the opening 9 and well 8 and are flush with the upper surface of the fiat top 1 when the cover sections are in .the raised positions. The adjacent edges of the cover sections i1 and 18 are connected by hinges -l9,;arranged upon the lower faces thereof, and

forming -a knee joint which breaks downwardly.

'Ihe forward cover section IT has a rail 20secured thereto; adjacent to its forward edge, and

this rail is arranged beneath the cover section lj andis adapted to engage the stationary table ll when the cover sections l1 and 18 are in ;the closed position, thus serving to limit the downward movement of the forward edge of the cover section H.

Disposed adjacent to each end of the cover section 11 and beneath the cover section is a link ll, one nd of which .is plvotally mounted .upon the wallmld by means of a fixed pivot 22. The opposite end of the link 2| is pivotally connected 2.12.23 with a bracket 24, rigidly secured to the ,cover section I?! near and spaced from its lf orward edgeQThe pivot 22 is arranged near a d spaced from the rear edge of the cover section 11 when this cover section is in the raised ing the same in the hinged sections I1 and I8. It

'cover section I! for the passage ofthese links. .Thisspace is present in the conventional folding position, as shown in Figure 3. The links 2I cause the cover section I! to swing in a curved path when the same is raised and lowered.

Rigidly attached to each wall III by means of screws 25 or the like is a stationary bracket 26. This stationary bracket has a lever 21 pivotally mounted thereon between its ends, as shown at 28. The lever 21 has a long arm which is pivotally connected, at 29, with a bracket 30, and this bracket is arranged beneath and rigidly secured to the rear cover section I8, adjacent one end thereof and preferably spaced from its forward and rear edges, as shown. The lever 21 is pivotally connected at 3| with a link 32, and this link is pivotally connected at 33 with an,armbracket 34. This arm-bracket is disposed adjacent to one end of the swinging table I2, is rigidly I secured thereto and is disposed perpendicular to v the surface of the table and projects above the same for a substantial distance, as shown. The lever 21 and link 32 and associated elements serve vto connect the rear cover section I8 with the table I2 so that the movement of the cover section I8 is transmitted to the table [2.

Arranged adjacent to ,each end of the cover section I8 is a link 35, the lower end of which is pivotally connected with the bracket 26 as shown at 36 and its upperend ispivotally connected, as shown as 31, with the bracket 30. When the cover section I8 is inthe raised position, Figure 3, the link 35 crosses the lever 21. The link 35 causes the cover section I8 to swing ina curved path when being raised and lowered and when the cover section I8 is in the lowermost position, it engages the vertical partition or stop the downward movement of the cover is reduced,

and hence the cover is rendered'foldable by formis, of course, understood that the links2l, 32 and 35 and the levers 2'! are thin, and that there is suflicient space at the endsof the tablev I2 and typewriter desk and is shown, for instance, in Figure 3 of Patent 675,729.

The operation of the desk is as follows: With the cover sections I1 and IS in the closed position, Figure 3, the desk is opened by the operator raising the cover section IT and swinging it rearwardly and downwardly until it assumes the positionshown in Figure 2. The links 2| cause the cover section I! to swing in a curved path, and the links 35 cause the cover section I8 to swing in a curved path. When the cover section I8 moves downwardly, Figure 2, it swings the lever 21 upon the pivot 28 and the short arm of the lever moves the link 32 upwardly and this link acts upon the arm-bracket 34, shifting the arm-bracket to the raised vertical position. The arm-bracket swings the table I2 upwardly to .the horizontal position so that its upper surfaceis flush with the upper surface of the stationary table II. ,thus raised to the horizontal position, the pivot 3|. of thelink32 is moved slightly rearwardly When the table I2 is past dead center and hence the link 32 is locked 'at substantially a straight angle with relation to I 1. A desk comprising a top the lever 21. The lower end of the lever 21 cannot now swing forwardly because the cover section I8 engages the stationary partition I6. It is thus seen that the table I2 is locked against downward movement due to downward pressure exerted thereon. When the table I2 was in the lowered position the typewriter I5 engaged the back I4, and the typewriter is now shifted forwardly upon the stationary table II, Figure 2. .To close the desk, the typewriter I5 is slid back upon the table I2 so that it contacts with the back I4, and the cover section I1 is now moved forwardly and the reverse operation of the parts occurs and these parts then assume the position shown in Figure 3. In practice, I have found it "satisfactory to have the stationary table II ten incheswide as this will afford a suitable support for the average typewriter and the table I2 is sufficiently wide to receive the typewriter. Of course the invention is not restricted to these dimensions. The table II serves as a support for the hinges I3 of the table I2 whereby'these hinges I3 are located at a considerable-rear dis, tanoe from the front ofthe desk. While it is preferred to use. the stationary table II, yet this table might be dispensed with and a narrow support used for the hinges I3, at the location shown. If this were done, the typewriter would remain upon the table I2 when the table I2 is raised and the operator would move in further toward the typewriter. t

In Figures 5 to '7 inclusive, I have shown guide means for the typewriter I5. The stationary table II is provided with transverse grooves 38 which are transversely tapered and increasein width upwardly. These transverse grooves38 are in alignment with transverse grooves 39, which are identical with the grooves 38 and formed in the swinging table I2. The numeral40 designates guidesv which are slidahle in the grooves 39 and 38 and are transversely tapered and increase inwidth upwardly. These guides are secured to rubber feet 4| of the typewriter by screws 42 and'the guides have lowerrecesses 43 which receive the heads of the screws. It is ob vious. that the grooves and guides properly guide the typewriter, I5 in its movement toward and from the stationary table II and also permit of the ready removal of the'typewriter' from the tables II and I2, when desired. The forward movement of the guides 40 are limited by a fixed rail orfiange 44. 7 I 7 While it is preferred to use the guide means for the typewriter, yet the invention" is in no sense restricted tofsuch use. V It is to be understood that the form of my in: vention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I having an opening and a well,forward and rear cover sections hinged together and movable with relation to the desk, a link means pivotallyfconnected with the cover sections-and desk, to guide the cover sections when moved in one direction into'the well, a swinging table within the well for movement about a fixed pivot, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends upon t he desk, means'connect 'ing one end of the lever'with one coversection,

the coversections' and desk, to'guide the cover sections when moved in one direction into the wellg'a swinging table to operate-within thewell, fixedpivot means for supporting the table, a lever pivotally mounted upon the desk, means connecting the lever with the swinging table, and means connecting the lever with one cover section.

,3. A desk comprising a top and having an opening and a well, a swinging table mounted within the well, means for pivotally supporting the table and permanently retaining the forward edge of the table spaced rearwardly from the front of the desk, a cover for the opening including cover sections which are hinged together, pivot means connected with the desk and cover sections and serving to guide the cover sections into the well when the cover sections are swung rearwardly, and a lever pivotally connected with the desk and one cover section and the table. I

4. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a typewriter table arranged within the well, meansto pivotally support the table so that it may be shifted to a raised generally horizontal position and a lowered position, a cover for the opening including cover sections which are hinged together, means to guide the cover sections when moved from the raised position to a lowered position within the well, and connecting means between one cover section and the table so that the table is moved by such cover section.

5. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a stationary table arranged within the well adjacent to the front of the desk and beneath and spaced from the top of the desk, a swinging table pivotally supported so that it may be swung to an upper generally horizontal position substantially flush with the stationary table and to a lowered inclined position, a cover for the opening including cover sections which are hinged together, means to guide the cover sections so that they may be lowered into the well, and operating connecting means between one cover section and the swinging table so that the table is moved by such cover section.

6. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a table arranged within the well adjacent to the front thereof and disposed beneath the top, said table having a substantial width, a swinging table within the well at the, rear of the first table and adapted to be shifted upwardly to a generally horizontal position and to be lowered to an inclined position, means for supporting the swinging table and serving to retain the forward edge of the swinging table at the rear of the first table, a cover including cover sections which are hinged together, guide means for the cover sections so that they may be lowered into the well, and means operated by one cover section when it is lowered to raise the swinging table.

'7. A desk comprising a top having an opening,

said desk having a well, a cover for the opening,

means to guide the cover into the well, a swinging table arranged within the well, a lever pivoted to the desk and connected with the cover, a link pivotally connecting the lever and table, the

atsubstantially a straight angletothe lever when meiever is-shifted ma position to move the table to the uppermost position,

8LA desk comprising a top having an opening,

s aid-desk havihgawell, a cover for the opening and movable 'into the well, alink pivotally connected the desk and the cover to guide the samefin its movement, aswinging table arranged within' the well, a lever pivotally connected withtlie desk and thecoyer, a'link pivotally connected with-the lever and pivotally connected with the table, the arrangement being such that the lever and link swings the table to the uppermost position when the cover is in the lowermost position, the link being then disposed at substantially a straight angle to the lever and the pivot connecting the lever and link being slightly rearward past dead center with respect to the pivot which supports the lever so that the table is locked against downward movement.

9. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a forward table section arranged within the Well, and having a substantial width, a rear table section, means for pivotatlly supporting the rear table section so that it may assume a lowered inclined position with its forward edge adjacent to the rear edge of the forward table section and its rear edge spaced rearwardly from its forward edge, the two table sections providing sufiicient knee space, the rear table section being also adapted to be swung upwardly to a generally horizontal position at the rear of the forward table section, a cover for the opening, including cover sections which are hinged together, and means to guide the cover sections so that they may be shifted to a raised position to cover the opening and to a lowered position within the well about the movable table.

10. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a stationary table section arranged within the well and disposed adjacent to the front of the desk, a movable table section arranged within the well at the rear of,

the stationary table section, pivot means arranged adjacent to the rear edge of the stationary table section and connected with the movable table section adjacent to the front edge of the movable table section, the arrangement being such that the movable table section may be swung to a lowered position inclining rearwardly from its upper edge toward its lower edge, the movable table section being adapted to be shifted to a generally horizontal position at the rear of the stationary table section, a cover including cover sections which are hinged together, and means to guide the cover sections so that they may be shifted to an upper position to cover the opening and to a lowered position within the well.

11. A desk comprising a top having an opening, said desk having a well, a table section arranged within the well and disposed adjacent to the front of the desk, a movable table section arranged within the well at the rear of the first table section, pivot means arranged adjacent to 'the rear edge of the first table section and conadjacentto the rear edge of the first table section and the rear edge of the movable table secarrarigement beingsuchthat the link is disposed tion disposed rearwardly of its front edge, a cover,

for the opening including hinged cover sections, and means to guide the cover sections during their movement to an upper position to cover the opening and a lowered position to enter the well.

12. A desk comprising a top having an opening,- said desk having a well, ,a table section arranged within the well and disposed adjacent to the front of the desk, a second table section arranged within the well and disposed at the rear of the first table section, means to hinge the iorward edge portion of the second table 10 the well. 7

JOHN H. WHITE. 

